NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread
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Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Patrik Laine was benched during his fourth game with the Columbus Blue Jackets after being heard making a disrespectful comment toward then-assistant coach Brad Larsen, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch.
The 23-year-old sat out for nearly half of the Jackets' 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 8. His last shift came with just over six minutes remaining in the second period, and he missed all of the final frame.
Former head coach John Tortorella didn't get into the specifics of the reason for the benching at the time, instead emphasizing that all Blue Jackets players need to understand the "culture."
Tortorella and the Jackets agreed to part ways at the end of the season, with Larsen taking his place to become a first-time NHL head coach.
Though Larsen declined to comment about whether he's patched up his relationship with Laine, a source told Hedger the incident was dealt with swiftly.
In January, the Winnipeg Jets traded Laine and center Jack Roslovic to the Jackets for star forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick in 2022. Laine then produced just 10 goals and 11 assists over 45 games with the Jackets, a far cry from the Finnish sniper's typical output. He's enjoyed 30-plus goal seasons three times during his young career.
Laine shouldered the blame for his offensive woes in May, but in a recent interview with Finnish publication Aamulehti, he seems to have changed his tune.
"Tortorella did not give freedom to anyone. Forwards want to create offensively," Laine said, as translated by The Columbus Dispatch.
“I do not even want to be like everyone else," he continued. "I am who I am and I do things my way. Everyone should be given the opportunity to be themselves. Then, of course, you have to play within the team's system. I think it’s stupid not to use my potential."
Laine added that he understands the need for a "tight system," and the winger did as he was told in Tortorella's scheme, which prioritized responsible two-way play.
He's a pending restricted free agent.
The 23-year-old sat out for nearly half of the Jackets' 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 8. His last shift came with just over six minutes remaining in the second period, and he missed all of the final frame.
Former head coach John Tortorella didn't get into the specifics of the reason for the benching at the time, instead emphasizing that all Blue Jackets players need to understand the "culture."
Tortorella and the Jackets agreed to part ways at the end of the season, with Larsen taking his place to become a first-time NHL head coach.
Though Larsen declined to comment about whether he's patched up his relationship with Laine, a source told Hedger the incident was dealt with swiftly.
In January, the Winnipeg Jets traded Laine and center Jack Roslovic to the Jackets for star forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round pick in 2022. Laine then produced just 10 goals and 11 assists over 45 games with the Jackets, a far cry from the Finnish sniper's typical output. He's enjoyed 30-plus goal seasons three times during his young career.
Laine shouldered the blame for his offensive woes in May, but in a recent interview with Finnish publication Aamulehti, he seems to have changed his tune.
"Tortorella did not give freedom to anyone. Forwards want to create offensively," Laine said, as translated by The Columbus Dispatch.
“I do not even want to be like everyone else," he continued. "I am who I am and I do things my way. Everyone should be given the opportunity to be themselves. Then, of course, you have to play within the team's system. I think it’s stupid not to use my potential."
Laine added that he understands the need for a "tight system," and the winger did as he was told in Tortorella's scheme, which prioritized responsible two-way play.
He's a pending restricted free agent.
Crabbers
Well-Known Member
He’s all about himself…he will get traded probably too
Ginormousthumbs
Go on, geezer.
Columbus should leave Laine unprotected. 
Ginormousthumbs
Go on, geezer.
Turbo
Well-Known Member
So, reading between the lines, Laine basically got benched for making fun of Larsen's tracksuit.
(Assuming Larsen is going back to classic coaching attire, I promise this is the last time I go back to this joke. Really. Promise.)
(fingers crossed)
Ginormousthumbs
Go on, geezer.
Ruh Roh
Ginormousthumbs
Go on, geezer.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Shea Weber's future is suddenly uncertain as he continues to deal with several ailments.
The Montreal Canadiens captain may not play in 2021-22 due to knee, ankle, and thumb injuries, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun, who adds the Habs haven't decided whether to protect Weber in the upcoming expansion draft.
The Canadiens, NHL, NHLPA, and Weber are all looking into the longtime defenseman's medical status and its implications, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The soon-to-be 36-year-old played through the recently concluded Stanley Cup Playoffs with a thumb injury, which forced him to miss time at the end of the regular season.
Weber has also dealt with nagging left foot damage that previously kept him out of action. The 16-year veteran was originally projected to miss four-to-six weeks in February 2020, but he returned after just a two-week absence. Weber underwent surgery to repair tendons in his foot in March 2018.
Based on the situation, the league wants to determine the appropriate status for the blue-liner's contract, according to Friedman. Weber is on Montreal's books through 2025-26 at a cap hit of about $7.86 million, according to CapFriendly.
The team only has to pay out $12 million in cash due to his deal's front-loaded nature, but Weber's former club, the Nashville Predators, would be on the hook for a significant bill should he hang up his skates. The Canadiens' cap recapture penalty would be much more reasonable in that scenario.
Montreal could also place Weber on long-term injured reserve, which would provide the organization with financial relief while he's out of the lineup. However, the NHL has to approve of that designation, and those talks surrounding the gritty rearguard are still in progress, according to Friedman.
Weber helped the Canadiens make an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final this season. Montreal named him captain in 2018-19, and he's played the last five campaigns with the Habs after spending his first 11 with the Predators.
The Montreal Canadiens captain may not play in 2021-22 due to knee, ankle, and thumb injuries, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun, who adds the Habs haven't decided whether to protect Weber in the upcoming expansion draft.
The Canadiens, NHL, NHLPA, and Weber are all looking into the longtime defenseman's medical status and its implications, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The soon-to-be 36-year-old played through the recently concluded Stanley Cup Playoffs with a thumb injury, which forced him to miss time at the end of the regular season.
Weber has also dealt with nagging left foot damage that previously kept him out of action. The 16-year veteran was originally projected to miss four-to-six weeks in February 2020, but he returned after just a two-week absence. Weber underwent surgery to repair tendons in his foot in March 2018.
Based on the situation, the league wants to determine the appropriate status for the blue-liner's contract, according to Friedman. Weber is on Montreal's books through 2025-26 at a cap hit of about $7.86 million, according to CapFriendly.
The team only has to pay out $12 million in cash due to his deal's front-loaded nature, but Weber's former club, the Nashville Predators, would be on the hook for a significant bill should he hang up his skates. The Canadiens' cap recapture penalty would be much more reasonable in that scenario.
Montreal could also place Weber on long-term injured reserve, which would provide the organization with financial relief while he's out of the lineup. However, the NHL has to approve of that designation, and those talks surrounding the gritty rearguard are still in progress, according to Friedman.
Weber helped the Canadiens make an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final this season. Montreal named him captain in 2018-19, and he's played the last five campaigns with the Habs after spending his first 11 with the Predators.
Jonathan Y
Well-Known Member
Did I miss the Kapril post? Says he wants a short term deal. That kinda turn down yells hell nah Minnesota to me
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
There's talks he may go back to Russia
Twentytwo
Pre-order Goodness
Please God let him go on long term injured reserve.
Ginormousthumbs
Go on, geezer.
For the money he’s asking for, I’d drive him to Alaska and he can walk home.There's talks he may go back to Russia
Jonathan Y
Well-Known Member
I'm dead lmao
Twentytwo
Pre-order Goodness
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
It appears Zach Hyman's time in Toronto is coming to an end.
The Maple Leafs have granted the pending unrestricted free-agent forward permission to speak to other teams so the club can explore trading his rights, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger.
Hyman, 29, is coming off the best two-year stretch of his career after tallying 36 goals and 70 points over his last 94 games. He's also proven to be an effective play-driver and a responsible two-way forward over the last three seasons.
Evolving-Hockey.com
Toronto has less than $10 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, and may not be able to pay Hyman his market value while addressing other needs.
Evolving-Hockey is projecting Hyman will sign a four-year deal with a $5.325-million annual cap hit this offseason.
Hyman has spent the majority of his Maple Leafs tenure playing alongside elite talent. The workhorse winger has played almost exclusively on the club's top line with some combination of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner.
Hyman was originally a fifth-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2010. The Maple Leafs traded for him in 2015 in exchange for Greg McKegg. The native of Toronto has played 345 games across six seasons with his hometown club.
The Maple Leafs have granted the pending unrestricted free-agent forward permission to speak to other teams so the club can explore trading his rights, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger.
Hyman, 29, is coming off the best two-year stretch of his career after tallying 36 goals and 70 points over his last 94 games. He's also proven to be an effective play-driver and a responsible two-way forward over the last three seasons.
Toronto has less than $10 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, and may not be able to pay Hyman his market value while addressing other needs.
Evolving-Hockey is projecting Hyman will sign a four-year deal with a $5.325-million annual cap hit this offseason.
Hyman has spent the majority of his Maple Leafs tenure playing alongside elite talent. The workhorse winger has played almost exclusively on the club's top line with some combination of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner.
Hyman was originally a fifth-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2010. The Maple Leafs traded for him in 2015 in exchange for Greg McKegg. The native of Toronto has played 345 games across six seasons with his hometown club.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
The Florida Panthers are buying out defenseman Keith Yandle, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Yandle has two seasons remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.35 million. He signed the seven-year, $44.45-million deal with Florida in 2016.
Here's a breakdown of the salary-cap implications of Yandle's buyout, according to CapFriendly:
Yandle, 34, appeared to fall out of favor with the Panthers at times this past season. It was reported in January that he wasn't in the team's plans moving forward and would begin the campaign as a healthy scratch. But he ended up playing in all 56 regular-season games, recording 27 points.
Florida scratched Yandle for two games during its first-round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The blue-liner owns the second-longest ironman streak in NHL history, having played in 922 consecutive regular-season games. He has 600 points in 1,032 career contests.
Yandle has two seasons remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.35 million. He signed the seven-year, $44.45-million deal with Florida in 2016.
Here's a breakdown of the salary-cap implications of Yandle's buyout, according to CapFriendly:
| SEASON | INITIAL CAP HIT | NEW CAP HIT |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | $6.35M | $2.34M |
| 2022-23 | $6.35M | $5.39M |
| 2023-24 | $0 | $1.24M |
| 2024-25 | $0 | $1.24M |
Florida scratched Yandle for two games during its first-round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The blue-liner owns the second-longest ironman streak in NHL history, having played in 922 consecutive regular-season games. He has 600 points in 1,032 career contests.
Jonathan Y
Well-Known Member
brb fucking sobbing at my desk